Background Info

Birmingham City Council has attempted to implement social value driven policies in its procurement through the creation of the Birmingham Business Charter for Social Responsibility, encouraging public, private and third sector entities which do business with Birmingham City Council to commit themselves to maximising the well being of the local economy, community and environment.

Background Info

The Furniture Scheme (a social enterprise and charity set up to provide low cost essential household equipment to those in need) joined Wrekin Housing Group in order to help local residents to gain skills, jobs and furniture.

Background Info

Halo Leisure was established in 2002 when the council of Leominster (one of the most deprived areas of the UK) was under pressure to provide more funding for leisure centres. Halo Leisure’s founders saw an opportunity to lease the leisure centres and reach the widest customer base possible. Annual turnover of the leisure centres is over £6.7 million and 190 staff are employed.

Background Info

Solihull Council supports social enterprises, targeting poor neighbourhoods with the support of the European Regional Development fund. They have partnered together to create Development in Social Enterprise (DISE). One business in particular is Gro-Organic CIC supporting people of all ages to understand where their food comes from.

Background Info

Glendale Services was awarded a grounds maintenance and tree management contract worth £2 million by Bolton at Home – a social housing provider which owns 18,000 homes. This contract starts on April 1st 2015 and runs for free years with an option to extend further. The contract is aimed at improving the economic, social and environmental well-being of the local community.

Background Info

Staffordshire’s local councils have made clear they expect business owners to create apprenticeships for young people. PM Training, traditionally working within the private sector, over the past two years has worked with the local authorities to train young people for these new apprenticeships. PM Training now has four training centres in each council area of North Staffordshire and has grown in staff from 60 in 2008 to 190 in 2012 due to this collaboration with the local council.

Background Info

Cumbria County Council has gone further than most Local Authorities in ensuring that it maximises the social, community and economic benefits of all its public sector spending as a matter of course. In 2006 the Council took part in a national pilot by the North East Centre of Excellence and the Office of the Third Sector (Cabinet Office) to look at the wider use of social issues in procurement. Under this project the Council aimed to secure social value by ensuring that social clauses were used in every appropriate contract. At the same time the Council worked to increase the third sector’s capacity to respond to public sector procurement opportunities. A Third Sector Programme Manager was appointed to lead the work. The appointment has continued after the end of the pilot and the Council continues to strive to ensure its spending delivers social benefit.